2 Peter 2:17-22

New American Standard Bible

¹⁷These are ^(A)springs without water and mists driven by a storm, ^(B)for whom the ^[a]black darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸For, while speaking out ^(C)arrogant words of no ^(D)value they ^(E)entice by fleshly desires, by ^(F)indecent behavior, those who barely ^(G)escape from the ones who live in error, ¹⁹promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for ^(H)by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved. ²⁰For if, after they have ^(I)escaped the defilements of the world by ^(J)the knowledge of the ^(K)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again ^(L)entangled in them and are overcome, ^(M)the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹^(N)For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from ^(O)the holy commandment ^(P)handed on to them. ²²^[b]It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “^(Q)A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

2 Peter 2:17 Lit blackness of darkness
2 Peter 2:22 Lit The thing of the true proverb has happened to them

2 Peter 2:17-22

International Standard Version

¹⁷These men are dried-up springs, mere clouds driven by a storm. Gloomy darkness is reserved for them. ¹⁸By talking high-sounding nonsense and using sinful cravings of the flesh, they entice people who have just escaped from those who live in error. ¹⁹Promising them freedom, they themselves are slaves to depravity, for a person is a slave to whatever conquers him.

²⁰For if, after escaping the world’s corruptions through a full knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus, the Messiah,^[a] they are again entangled and conquered by those corruptions,^[b] then their last condition is worse than their former one. ²¹It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and turn their backs on the holy commandment that was committed to them. ²²The proverb is true that describes what has happened to them: “A dog returns to its vomit,”^[c] and “A pig that is washed goes back to wallow in the mud.”^[d]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

2 Peter 2:20 Or Christ
2 Peter 2:20 Lit. by them
2 Peter 2:22 Cf. Prov 26:11
2 Peter 2:22 The source of this quotation appears to be the Syrian Story of Ahikar.

2 Peter 2:17-22

New International Version

¹⁷These people are springs without water^(A) and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.^(B) ¹⁸For they mouth empty, boastful words^(C) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping^(D) from those who live in error. ¹⁹They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”^(E) ²⁰If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing^(F) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ^(G) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.^(H) ²¹It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.^(I) ²²Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”^[a]^(J) and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”